Regenerable desiccator



May 6, 1952 E. F. sEAMAN REGENERABLE DESICCATOR n /l A s :ws Z

INVENTOR.

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Filed Sept. 16, 1947 Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REGENERABLE DESICCATOR Ellsworth F. Seaman, Washington, D. C.

Application*September 16,1947, Serial No1.774,250

11 Claims. (Cl. 183-4L5) My invention relates broadly to adsorbing and.

a construction of adsorbing unit which may bev readily manufactured inexpensively on a mass production scale and which will have a relatively long periodA of active life.

Another object of my invention is to provide aconstruction of adsorbing unit having a desiccant material built therein and associated with an electrical heating `element whereby after the desiccantmaterial hasperformed itsfunction of adsorption the electrical heating element may be energizedfor reactivating the desic-cant material.

Another object of my invention is to provide construction of adsorbing unit comprising a foraminous. container forreceiving beads of desiccant material which may be packed around lan incandescent lamp disposed Within the container wherebythe desiccant material may perform its function of adsorption with respect togases cir-l culating through the container and subsequentlythe unit placed in an ordinary incandescent lamp socket and the lamp energized for subjectingv the desiccant to a rejuvenating operation.

Stillv another object of my invention is to providea` construction of deodorizing unit compri-sing highly porous material and. an electrically operf ated rejuvenating means therefor.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a method for producing adsorbing units of a -construction comprising. a desiccant filled foraminous container with an enclosed incandescent lamp as` set forth more fully in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanyingc drawings in which:

Figure 1 isa cross sectional view taken through the adsorbing unit of my invention `and showing the association of the desiccant material with an incandescent lamp therein; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a View illustrating the several components of the adsorbing unit arranged in juxtapositionwith respect toy each other; Fig. 4 is a schematic viewillustrating one production process by whichthe adsorbingunit of my inventionmay be manufactured, and Fig. 5 illustrates one manner in which the adsorbing unit may be suspended for use inclothes vclosets andthe like.

My invention is. directed to the construction of and method of producing a simple form of'adsorbing andldeodorizing unit which may be read'.- ily rejuvenated from time to time for use in. a variety'oflwaysfor maintainingadry and deodorized atmosphere in a confined space. My invention covers generally the design of an adsorbing and deodori'zing unit intended for use in confined spaces such ascracker boxes and other focdicontainers. requiring` dryness fortheir continued pal-- atability, and in clothes closets, basements, and damp places. While l'. havey illustrated my' in'- vention. by reference to a small portable unit, vvIl may apply the principles of my invention to'largesize units.

In operationthe working' cycle of theadsorbing unit consists. of a. periodVV ofi timeY which may range from several days to several. months during'whi'ch the moisture. is removed from the air'and ad`- sorbed in the adsorbing unit. When the moisture holding capacity ofthe unit is reached for any specified maximum relative humidity-of the sur'- rounding air the unit is screwed into a standard" -volt lamp socket so thatit may be' reactivated by driving off the adsorbed moisture'. It is' then ready for another adsorbing period.

The adsorbing` unit consists of a perforated metal container, a desiccant material and a heat@ ing element. The desiccant may consist of any of. an adscrbing material such as silica gel, certain clay products, and spherical beads asmanufactured. by the Socony Vacuum Oil'Compainy andi designated S/V Sovabead designating silica gelinr irregular, granular, or spherical grain form. It'is' intended in the construction set forth herein-to utilize any of the materials regardless of shape but it is claimed that the utilization of the spherical. shapes. results in air or gas circulation per'- forman-ce which is new and different in its endresult from that obtainedfrom other materials, and

is of greater significance than the ordinary substitution of one material for another.

"Ihe heating element may -consist of'woun'dresistor, composition resistor, resistanceA wire,. in;- candescent lamp or other methodv of.`heating.

Referring to the drawingsin detail reference character l designates.aperforatedmetal cylindrical memberV having ancpen. end I a anda circular inwardly directed central flanged. portion Ib in the other end. The perforations in the cylindrical member [have beenrepresentedlat! uniformly distributed throughout the area ofthe cylindrical member in both ofthe side walls and in the flat annular end portion represented at Ic. The. cylindrical member is arranged to receive an. incandescent lamp which I'have represented atf3. rlhe incandescent lamp y3.1 contains a bulbu.- lar portion 3a and a .screw plug base portion 3b. The lamp has the'base portion 3b'thereof'introduced through vthe circular. opening. Fcl inxthe flanged portion lb of the cylindrical member l so that the inwardly directed fruSto-conical shaped iiange Ib has-the edge le thereof' directly contacting the glassv of' the bulbular portion 3a of the lamp 3. l

A. lengthV of asbestos. cord 4 soaked 1in liquidcement such.v as a paste ofi sodium-silicate Vand asbestos powder is then forced into theannular recess disposed between the inclined Wall constituted by flange Ib and the glass wallof the bulbular portion 3a ofv lamp .3 and allowed tov harden.

A rigid cemented joint is thus secured between cylindrical member I and the lamp 3. The foraminous cylindrical member I has the interior of the cylindrical wall thereof spaced from the bulbular portion 3a of lamp 3. The taper of the bulbular portion 3a of lamp 3 adjacent one end and the semi-spherical shape of the bulbular portion 3a at the opposite end provides a transverse zone within cylindrical member I which varies from a minimum radius substantially centrally of cylindrical member I, to a maximum adjacent opposite ends of cylindrical member I. The area Y within these transverse zones interiorly of cylindrical member I is filled with substantially spherical beads of desiccant material represented at 5. This desiccant may be silica gel. certain clay products, or beads designated as S/V Sovabeads, hereinbefore referred to, possessing moisture adsorbing properties of a high order. vThese substantially spherical beads are filled in around the bulbular portion 3a of lamp 3 and are packed within the transverse zones of differing radii extending from a minimum substantially centrally of cylindrical member I to a maximum adjacent opposite ends of cylindrical member l.

Where the flange portion Ib of the container l is turned outwardly instead of inwardly the cement is applied in an annular zone around the lamp bulb and around the outwardly extending flange of the container for rigidly connecting the container to the lamp bulb.

The container for the beads of desiccant as thus prepared is then leveled oft and a closure cap E;v applied to the end of cylindrical member I. The closure cap 6 has a substantially solid annular depending skirt 6a, which may or may not be threaded, which connects with the substantially solid zone If of cylindrical member I adjacent the end la thereof, which may or may not be correspondingly threaded. The skirt Ila is cemented to the zone If for retaining the desiccant material 5 within the cylindrical member I. The end of the closure cap 6 is perforated, as represented at Bb to facilitate the circulation of air or gases through the cylindrical side walls cf cylindrical member I, andl through both ends of cylindrical member I in paths through the interstices between the beads of desiccant material 5.

The method of producing the adsorbing unit on a mass production scale is illustrated more clearly in Fig. 4 wherein reference character l designates one of the transversely journalled drums supporting a conveyor belt 8 and driven by shaft 9. The drum 'I has a substantially hexagonal periphery thereon providing a multiplicity of flat faces for receiving, supporting and propelling the iiat interconnected link `members I constituting the conveyor belt 8. The fiatinterconnected link members I0 form tables which are recessed at spaced intervals at II, I2, i4, etc., for receiving the' projecting screw plug bases 3b of the partially assembled lamps and associated foraminous containers I. The projecting ends 3b of the lamps extend into the recesses II, i2, I4, etc., and assist in maintaining the foraminous containers I in a vertically erect position for movement in the direction of the arrows beneath a desiccant lling station located at I5.

The desiccant iilling station I comprises a feed hopper I6 which receives the beads of .desiccant material I'I for gravitationally delivering the desiccant beads through spaced spouts i8, I9 and 20 under control of the valve cut-off member 2l which is provided with corresponding apertures- 4 filled into the containers.

22, 23 and 24 adapted to be aligned with, or moved to misaligned position with respect to spaced spouts i8, I9 and 29. Thus, as the conveyor system progressively advances a group of foramincus containers I into position beneath the spouts it, I9 and 2D, the beads of desiccant material are In order that the beads of desiccant material will readily ow around the obstruction oiered by the bulbulous shape of the lamp 3, I provide vibrating means for subjecting the link 8 immediately beneath the filling station to continuous vibration. The vibrating mechanism may comprise plate 25 which is free to move vertically within limits defined by guides 2li and 27 which project therein. A cam member 28 rotatably mounted on shaft 29 is driven through belt 30 from shaft 9 for sucq cessively raising and lowering plate 25 and thus imparting vibratory movement to link 8. This vibratory action serves to settle the desiccant. beads within the foraminous containers I around` the bulbulous portions of lamp 3 as represented The overflow of beads from the containers as they pass the filling station I5 is caught in a suitable tray and preserved for return to the hopper I6. The filled drying units then progressively advance to the positions represented at I", in which position a coating of cement is applied to the upper annular zone If of the foraminous container I and the closure member 6 applied thereto at the 'position designated 6 in Fig. 4. As the conveyor system progresses, the closure member 6 is cemented upon the foraminous container in the position designated at I'", and the completed foraminous container with the closure member 6 applied, is moved to the position I"". The sealed foraminous container I is now ready to be removed from the conveyor as a completed article.

The adsorbing unit represented in Fig. l is complete in itself and is ready to be placed in use. Before using the food container size adsorbing device the unit is screwed into a standard volt lamp socket and is left for approximately two hours. This dries out the desiccant. The adsorbing unit is then unscrewed from the lamp socket and may be placed in a food container such as a cannister containing such foodsl as crackers, breakfast cereals, potato chips, lpop corn, pretzels, etc., or other food that is to be kept in a crisp condition. The opening and closing of such cannisters normally introduces such moisture as may impair the crispness and edibility of the food, but with the adsorbing unit of my invention in operation the desiccant material adsorbs moisture through the perfora-A tions 2 in the container, thus maintaining the food in crisp edible condition.

The unit of my invention is also applicable to the preservation of chemicals and drugs requiring dry storage; and to small parts which would otherwise corrode when stored in damp places; and to powdered resin glue that is ruined when exposed to dampness. v When the adsorbing unit begins to lose its effectiveness the unit is removed from the cannister and screwed into a lamp socket for approximately two hours, as was originally done, whereby the desiccant material is dried, after which the unit regains its original eiectiveness. With reasonable care the adsorbing unit will last as long as the life of the incandescent lamp constituting the drying heater.

l have found that certain food products which directly contacting the curved envelope of the lamp and having la minimum radius substantially centrally of said container and increasing in radius toward each of the opposite ends of said container.

5. An adsorbing unit comprising a container of cylindrical construction with a foraminated cover closing one lend thereof and a fiat end wall at the other end thereof, said end wall having a centrally disposed flanged recess therein with a frusto-conical portion extending inwardly therefrom and terminating in an annular edge portion, an incandescent lamp having an envelope formed in a `bulbular portion and connected with a screw plug portion, with the screw plug Aportion projecting outwardly from said container through the centrally disposed recess therein, a cementitious material securing said bulbular portion of the envelope of said lamp to the annular edge portion of the flanged recess in said ilat end Wall of said container and a filling of desiccant material directly contacting and surrounding the bulbular portion of the envelope of said incandescent lamp and disposed within said container, the wall of said lcontainer being perforated for the circulation of air and gases through said desiccant material.

6. An ads'orbing unit comprising a container having an end wall with a centrally disposed flanged recess therein with a frusto-conical portion extending inwardly therefrom and terminating in an annular edge portion, an incandescent lamp having an envelope formed in a bulbular portion and connected with a screw plug portion with the screw plug portion projecting outwardly from said container through the centrally disposed recess therein, an asbestos gasket disposed within the frust'o-conical portion of said recess land cemented to both the bulbular portion of the envelope of said lamp and the annular edge portion of the recess in said container, a filling of desiccant beads in said container surrounding and in contact with the bulbular portion of the envelope of said lamp, and an attachable cover for said container, said container, said end wall and said 'cover having perforations therein for' the circulation of air and gases through the interstices between said desiccant beads.

7. An adsorbing unit comprising a foraminated "container of cylindrical construction with a foraminated cover closing one end thereof and a centrally apertured wall closing the other end thereof, an incandescent lamp disposed Within said container having the neck` thereof extending through the centrally apertured wall of said container and having the envelope of the bulbular portion thereof spaced from the interior Walls of said foraminated container and the -raminated cover closing one end thereof and a centrally apertured wall closing the other end thereof, an incandescent lamp disposed within the container having the neck thereof extending walls of said container and directly contacting the envelope of the lamp.

9. An adsorbing unit comprising a foramnated container of cylindrical construction with a foraminated cover closing one end thereof and a centrally apertured wall closing the other end thereof, an incandescent lamp disposed within the container having the neck thereof extending through the centrally apertured Wall of said container and having the envelope of the bulbular portion thereof spaced from the interior Walls of said foraminated container and the connecting means therefor projecting exteriorly of said container, and a filling of moisture adsorbing and deodorizing material interposed between the envelope of the bulbular portion of the lamp and the interior foraminated walls of said container and directly contacting the envelope of the lamp.

l0. An adsorbing unit comprising a forami- .nated container of cylindrical construction with a foraminated cover closing one end thereof and a centrally apertured wall closing the other end thereof, an incandescent lamp disposed Within the container having the neck thereof extending through the centrally apertured wall of said container and having the envelope of the bulbular portion thereof spaced from the interiorI Walls of said foraminated oontainer and the connecting means-therefor projecting exteriorly of said container, and a filling of a mixture of a granulated deodorizing material and beads of desiccantmaterial interposed between the envelope of the bulbular portion of the-lamp and the interior forarninated walls of said container and directly contacting the envelope of the lamp. l

1l. An adsorbing unit comprising a foramihated container of cylindrical construction with a foraminated cover closing one end thereof and a centrally 4apertured wall closingthe other end thereof, an incandescent lamp disposed within the container having the neck thereof extending through the centrally apertured wall of said container and having the envelope of the bulbular portion thereof spaced from the interior walls of said foraminated container and the connecting means therefor projecting exteriorly of said container, and a filling of deodorizing material interposed between the envelope of the bulbular portion of the lamp and the interior foraminated walls of said container and directly contacting the wall of the envelope of the lamp.

ELLSWORTH F. SEAL/IAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 1,544,212 Blaschle June 30, 1925 1,609,220 Sweet NOV. 30, 1926 1,920,914 Poggel Aug. 1, 1933 2,396,474 Riley Mar. 12, 1946 2,462,798 Wilson, Jr. Feb. 22, 1949 2,471,442 Morf May 31, 1949 

